Volume 2, Issue 4

N.C. State Fairgrounds
May 12, 2010
Volume 2, Issue 2
Show Spotlight!
Show Spotlight!
N.C. State Fairgrounds
October 8, 2010
Volume 2, Issue 4
N.C. State Fair makes for a fun family day
The N.C. State Fair offers families a fun-filled,
activity-packed day with plenty of free grounds
entertainment, exhibits and activities to combine
wholesome fun with a great learning experience.
In this Issue:
N.C. State Fair makes for a
fun family day
Connect with the State Fair
Last call to save on
admission and ride tickets
Favorite Fair foods
New Spectacular Ride: The
Fighter
Fair safety and security
Facilities Update
Raleigh Flea Market
reopens Nov. 6
Contact Us
2010 N.C. State Fair
Oct. 14-24
Coming Events
More at ncstatefair.org
Nightly fireworks, 9:45 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 14
Preview Day
Gates open at 3 p.m.
Discount admission
Unlimited Ride Wristband
Danny Gokey concert, $5
Friday, Oct. 15
Opening Ceremony, 11 a.m.
Casting Crowns concert, $15
Saturday, Oct. 16
Jr. Livestock Sale of
Champions, 11 a.m.
Special Awards Livestock
Show, 2 p.m.
Honor Society concert, $5
“Our grounds are filled with music, entertaining
performers, educational exhibits, agricultural
displays and fun activities for the whole family,”
said Wesley Wyatt, fair manager. “For the price of
admission, you can make a full day out of enjoying
all the sights and sounds of the Fair.”
● One of the new additions this year is the Seed
Survivor exhibit that will be located near Kiddie
Land and the GreenNC exhibit. Geared toward
kids in grades 1 through 7, the exhibit features
several virtual reality games designed to teach the
basic elements needed for plant growth. The
exhibit also features insect video scopes, sun
flower seed planting stations and multi-media
displays. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.,
except on Thursday, Oct. 14, when it opens at 4
p.m.
From livestock shows
to the petting zoo,
animals are an
important part of the
Fair, and are on
display every day.
● Kids and adults love animals, and the livestock
shows and displays give fairgoers a chance to
see winning cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, poultry,
horses and rabbits in the Jim Graham Building,
Kelley Building, Hunt Horse Complex, sheep tent,
poultry tent and rabbit barn. Rounding out the
daily animal offerings are petting zoos, a cow
milking display, Michelle’s Magical Poodles
act and pig races. Check the daily schedule for
locations and times.
● The Field of Dreams exhibit returns to show
how plants go from the field to the farmers market
or grocery store. A classroom in the exhibit
features a coloring book activity and kids can
exchange the “money” they make from “selling”
the commodities they harvest for a prize.
The N.C. State Fair offers a variety of hands-on activities
for kids and adults alike.
● The Village of Yesteryear features nearly 100
crafters showcasing handmade crafts. Visitors
can see potters turn lumps of wet clay into bowls
and vases, watch skilled carvers create intricate
designs from wood or see how tablecloths or
napkins are woven by hand. Jewelry making, doll
making, basketry, paper cutting, painting, black
smithing, paper folding and leather working are
some of the other crafts on display. Questions are
welcome. The Village of Yesteryear crafters are in
the Holshouser Building an Pitzer Heritage Circle.
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., except Oct.
14, when it opens at 4 p.m.
Continued, page 2
Be in-the-know about the N.C. State Fair
Curious about what happens behind-the-scenes at the N.C. State
Fair? Want to be the first to know about late-breaking news and
events each day? Stay connected through one of our many news
networks, including Facebook, Twitter and the Deep Fried @ The
N.C. State Fair blog.
And, for real-time info, event calendars, food- and ride-finder,
download the free State Fair app to your iPhone or
Android phone. Search the Apple Apps Store or the Android Market
for “NC State Fair.”
Select Fair Events
More at ncstatefair.org
Sunday, Oct. 17
Livestock Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony,
2 p.m.
Carolina Chocolate Drops
concert, $5
Monday, Oct. 18
Youth Celebration Day
FFA Event, 10 a.m.
Easton Corbin concert, $5
Tuesday, Oct. 19
Senior Citizens Day
Senior Fun Festival, 9 a.m.
Subway Great-Fair-A-Thon
Challenge, 1 p.m.
Chris Young concert, $5
Wednesday, Oct. 20
Military Appreciation Day
Active duty, reserve and
national guard members
plus four guests get in
free.
Military performances on
the Waterfall stage
throughout the day.
NASCAR Historical Marker
ceremony, 11 a.m.
Gloriana concert, $5
Thursday, Oct. 21
Food Lion Hunger Relief
Day
Exchange four cans of
food for one free
admission ticket to
support the Food Bank of
Central & Eastern NC
Jeffrey Osborne concert,
$10
Time running out for deep discounts on admission, ride tickets
State Fair fans who want to save money on
admission and rides can purchase discount
advance tickets at five area malls and four other
locations through Oct. 14.
Center on U.S. 70 in Clayton, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., except
Oct. 14 when sales end at 6 p.m. This new addition to
the advance sales lineup is located between Lowes
Foods and Quiznos in Clayton.
Admission tickets and ride sheets are on sale at
the following malls: Holly Hill Mall, Burlington;
University Mall, Chapel Hill; Northgate Mall,
Durham; Triangle Town Center, Raleigh; and
Wilson Mall, Wilson.
All locations will accept cash, Visa and MasterCard.
Tickets will be available during each mall’s regular
business hours except Thursday, Oct. 14, when
sales will end at 6 p.m.
In addition to the malls, tickets are available at
three locations in Raleigh and one in Clayton:
N.C. Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., 9
a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; N.C. State Fairgrounds,
Gate 9 off Trinity Road, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily; State
Farmers Market, 1201 Agriculture St., 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. daily; and Clayton Corners Shopping
 Bicycles seem to be part of everyone’s childhood
experience, but Keith King and riders in the King
Action Sports Stunt Show have taken their love
affair with bicycles to another level. This highflying act features an impressive group of BMX
ramp and flat-land riders who break out big-air
stunts such as end-over-end flips, mid-air spins
and hands-free riding. Many of the riders have
competed in the X-Games –the Olympics of
extreme sports -- so the tricks are not your back
yard-variety. The King Action Sports Stunt Show
performs four shows daily Oct. 18-22 in the Sam
Rand Grandstand. The riders offer three shows
Oct. 23 and 24.
● Another childhood experience for many people is
Hula hooping. HoopDrum, a duo from Carrboro,
has combined the movements of Hula hooping
with dance set against the backbeat of a drum to
create a uniquely artistic entertainment
experience. The duo encourages group
participation and has lots of specially designed
Hula hoops for people to try. HoopDrum
performs several shows daily in front of the Expo
Center.
Chris Tomlin concert, $10
Saturday, Oct. 23
Sunday, Oct. 24
Special Awards Livestock
Show, 2 p.m.
Justin Moore concert, $5
● Advance price: $6 for adults (saves you $2)
$2 for children (saves you $1)
$5 for groups of 40 or more
tickets purchased at the
same time (saves you $3)
Ride tickets
During the Fair: $1 per ride ticket
Advance price: $10 for a sheet of 18 tickets
(saves you $8)
Family Fun, Continued...
Friday, Oct. 22
Darius Rucker concert, $20
Support Breast Cancer
Awareness Month. Wear
pink to the fair today!
Admission tickets
● Gate price:
$8 for adults, age 13-64
$3 for children, age 6-12
Free for children, age 5 & under
Free for seniors, age 65 & older
Fairgoers participate in a Hula hoop competition
● Another act performing daily in front of the Expo
Center is ventriloquist Steve Brogan. Brogan
and his cast of characters are making their fair
debut this year.
● The Kiddieland Fun Park will be a place families
will not want to miss. The park hosts Magic 4 U,
Hubba Bubba the Clown and Michelle’s Magical
Poodles daily for several shows.
● The Flower and Garden Show area will also be
busy this year with more than 90 different
demonstrations planned during the Fair, including
pumpkin-carving demonstrations that will make
you rethink your Halloween pumpkin design.
Carver Tim Trudgeon will show how he creates
one-of-a-kind designs Oct. 16-21.
There’s always
something new to
discover in the
Flower & Garden
Show area. Last
year, this giant
Adirondack chair
made its debut as
a unique photo op
spot.
● The front lawn on the north side of Dorton Arena
is another great place to sit and enjoy free
entertainment. Check out incredible juggling tricks
by Dale Jones, a one-armed juggler; or watch a
performance with an environmental message by
Steve Trash Eco-Magician.
● A number of additional performers roam the
grounds each day, but you will likely need to look
up to see a couple of them. Stiltwalker Carrie
McQueen and energetic Rock-It the Robot both
tower over visitors and are pretty easy to spot.
Mobile talking robots and Al the Artist can also
be found entertaining Fair visitors daily. Look for
Al’s signature pink mobile cart or a crowd of
people gathered around the mini-robots.
Come start a new family tradition at the N.C. State
Fair Oct. 14-24. For more information or to buy
advance tickets, go to www.ncstatefair.org.
Thank you
to our Sponsor!
Favorite Fair foods
One of the most popular attractions at the Fair is
undoubtedly the food. Whether it’s the newest deep
fried creations, or traditional treats, Fair food is a
once-a-year indulgence that tops the list for many
fairgoers.
Fairgoers enjoy
some deep fried
Oreos, one of
the popular and
indulgent treats
at the N.C. State
Fair.
Here are just a few of the new dishes that will be
available this year:
NEW Fair Foods
● Krispy Kreme Burger. Available at Michael &
Shelia Beaver’s booth near Kiddieland Midway.
● Deep Fried Bacon & Cheese Mashed Potato
Bites. Available at Chefs D’lites near the
Grandstand.
● Deep Fried NC Cajun Turkey Wings. Available
at Chris Wrenn’s Cajun Grill near the Grandstand.
● Twinkie Logs. Available at Drury Enterpises near
the Expo Center.
● Fried Frito® Pie. Available at Steph’s
Strawberries, near the Rabbit Barn.
● Chocolate Obession Funnel Cake. Available at
The Gobblin’ Gourmet booth near the Kerr Scott
Building.
● Maple Bacon Cupcake. Available at BlueBird
Cupcakes in the Scott Building.
● 1 lb. hot dog. Available at Joe’s Big
Dogs, near the Jim Graham Building.
Deep fried
foods are
among
Fairgoers’
favorite Fair
treats.
Traditional Treats
● Funnel cake. All varieties of funnel cake are
available at multiple locations throughout the Fair.
● Giant turkey leg
● Roasted corn on the cob
● BBQ sandwich or platter
● Corn dogs and hot dogs
● Candy apple and cotton candy
● Deep fried (insert your favorite treat here!)
Healthier Fair Foods
We love to highlight the unusual and indulgent foods
that can be found at the Fair, but there are a variety
of foods available that won’t spoil your diet. Here are
some of the healthier foods, suggested by State Fair
staff:
● Baked sweet potato. Available at multiple
locations.
● Pork tenderloin plate, with two vegtables from
the Pork Chop Shop.
● Greek salad from John the Greek
● Fresh squeezed lemonade available at multiple
locations.
● Fresh apple cider in Heritage Circle.
Of course, these are just a few examples of the
many treats you can find at the N.C. State Fair. New
foods will continue to be uncovered and announced,
so stay in touch with the latest news through our
blog, Deep Fried @ The N.C. State Fair.
Ride Report: Fighter debuts in 2010
Do you spend your days at the Fair alternating
between deep-fried goodness and stomach-churning
rides? Well, this may interest you: Powers Great
American Midways, which brought last year’s
popular Vertigo ride, has confirmed the latest ride to
grace the midway at the N.C. State Fair. It’s called
Fighter.
According to the manufacturer, this ride combines
the rotating movements of a carousel with the
pendulum motion of a swing. This results in a
smooth but exciting ride with unlimited variations.
Getting the ride to the N.C. State Fair wasn’t easy.
For starters, there are only two Fighters in the world.
Next, there was the size issue. Fighter is a monster,
standing 35 feet tall with a footprint of 80 feet. It’s so
big that its 91 foot trailer requires a special permit to
be transported across roads. Luckily, Powers
secured the permits and Fighter will be at the Fair
starting Thursday, October 14, during Preview Day.
Speaking of Preview Day, serious riders will want to
take advantage of the Preview Day unlimited ride
wristband. The $25 wristband is good for unlimited
Fighter, pictured above, is a new spectacular ride that will
debut at the 2010 N.C. State Fair.
rides from 3:30 p.m. to midnight on Thursday, Oct.
14, only. They will be available at Midway ticket
booths on Preview Day, and are not available in
advance. All fairgoers can save with discounted gate
admission prices on Preview Day. Tickets will be $6
for adults and $2 for children ages 6-12 that day.
Thank you
to our Sponsor!
Safety and Security at the State Fairgrounds
The State Fairgrounds has 24-hour security every
day of the year, and during the State Fair we have a
high level of cooperation with a number of safety
agencies.
More than 350 personnel from the State Highway
Patrol, Raleigh Police and Wake County Sheriff’s
offices will work throughout the 11-day Fair to keep
the grounds safe.
“We have uniformed police, security guards and
plain-clothed officers on site, and feel that
fairgrounds are extremely well protected during the
Fair,” said Joel Keith, State Fairgrounds Chief of
Security. “We also have EMS, fire and rescue and
other safety personnel trained and ready for
unexpected situations that might occur.”
During regular operating hours, patrons can all
919-839-4555 to reach a Fairgrounds security
officer. The 24-hour Fairgrounds security cell phone
number is 919-612-6767.
Facilities update
We’ve made several improvements to the
fairgrounds this year that will offer visitors better
visibility and accessibility, and a more organized
layout.
In the Kiddileland Midway, near the Commercial &
Education Building, we’ve installed new light fixtures
that add to the safety and visibility in this popular
family atmosphere.
Fairgoers will also notice a change in the layout of
the area outside the Gov. Kerr Scott Building, and
the area near Gate 2. Vendors who sell large items
such as spas and storage buildings will now be
located on the south side of Dorton Arena, and the
carnival attractions that were previously located near
Gate 2 will now operate in the Scott Building Midway
area. This location swap offers vendors a less
distracting location to speak with potential
customers, and keeps the majority of the Midway
rides and attractions together.
We’ve also added additional paving to the Scott
Building Midway area, to provide visitors with
smoother walkways.
Fans of the N.C. Dept. of Labor Apprenticeship
Contests will notice a location change, as well. The
new location for these competitions will be near the
Poultry Tent behind the Jim Graham Building. A
petting zoo will now occupy the former
apprenticeship tent location near Gate 9.
We are pleased to announce that we have finished
an initial phase of the RV Campground, and are able
to provide a safe, contained environment for our RV
patrons. An area with 53 year-round camping
spaces are now complete with all of the modern
amenities, including power, water, sanitary sewer
and WiFi Internet access in a well-landscaped
setting. Fairgoers may notice fewer RVs and trailers
parked inside the fence near gates 9 and 10.
Raleigh Flea Market returns Saturday, November 6
Shoppers in search of bargains, antiques and
unique products should mark their calendars for
Saturday, November 6 when the Raleigh Flea
Market is set to return to the N.C. State
Fairgrounds, just in time for the holiday season.
The market is one of the largest indoor/outdoor flea
markets in the Southeast with hundreds of dealers
and crafters offering everything from collectible
comic books and vinyl records to handmade jewelry
and furniture.
The Raleigh Flea Market operates every Saturday
and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., except during the
month of October due to the annual N.C. State Fair.
Contact Us
North Carolina State Fair
Steve Troxler, Agriculture Commissioner
Wesley Wyatt, State Fair Manager
Mailing Address:
1010 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1010
Physical Address:
1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607
Phone: (919) 821-7400; Fax: (919) 733-5079
Web site: www.ncstatefair.org
■
Year-round Event Calendar: www.ncstatefair.org/events/calendar.htm
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